In October 2013, Willy and Karin Rau opened the doors to Divine, a restaurant and wine bar offering a unique dining experience for Chester dwellers and visitors. Upon entering Divine’s chic and classy dining area, guests encounter an aesthetically pleasing and intimate dining space— beautiful wood flooring, warmly dimmed lighting, stone walls with rich red accents. Even more impressive than the sophisticated ambiance is the menu.
At Divine, the chefs practice traditional French cooking techniques with a contemporary twist for a healthier and lighter finish. They focus on fresh and high quality ingredients for enhanced flavors and an excellent eating experience. All the food is made from scratch with farm-to-table, organic components. A prime example of this philosophy is the “catch,” a popularly-ordered fresh-fish dish that differs from day to day in terms of variety and preparation.
Broadly titled “contemporary cuisine,” the diverse menu options incorporate flavors from around the world. “We don’t want to be in a box,” Karin Rau says. This idea was inspired by her own travels with her husband. “There’s no place we haven’t been and as soon as you travel you have to eat,” Rau adds. Several dinner items include New Zealand rack of lamb, Waygu Bistro Filet and hickory-smoked duck breast, uncommon selections that cannot be found anywhere else in the area and especially not prepared in this particular manner. Diners can discover all of these flavors and variety with Divine’s five course tasting menus, which include an assortment of same-size portions and showcase the chefs’ talents. Also of note is the restaurant’s wine cellar, which features an “out of this world” selection of 100 various wines.
Though celebratory of many cultures and cuisines, the Raus pay a notable homage to their German heritage, serving German draft beers and dishes like Jaeger Schnitzel and Wiener Schnitzel.
They also offer German Night, a Monday dinner special with discounted prices on German meals and beer.
Additionally, Divine offers many catering service options for any function. Groups may take their party outside on the patio, use the restaurant’s backroom, block off the entire dining area (which seats around 100), rent the wine room for private tastings, or have Divine brought to them. Rau emphasizes that their catering services deliver superior results, providing each client with the “divine touch” and truly satisfying their clients’ needs with personalized menus and decorations. “We plan each event in detail and go into specifics with our customers,” Rau says.
Though hidden in a corner of the Rivers Bend Shopping Center, this wonderful, local gem is not to be missed. Ranked #1 among Chester restaurants on TripAdvisor and praised with raving reviews on OpenTable and Yelp, an exceptional discovery awaits at 13127 Rivers Bend Blvd. Divine is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 am-2:30 pm and for dinner Monday through Saturday from 5:00 pm-9:30 pm. On Sundays, brunch is served from 11:00 am-3:00 pm, and dinner is served from 5:00 pm-8:00 pm. Happy Hour is Monday through Friday from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm. They also express their support and respect for the military with a discount. For more information, visit the webpage, www.divine-rb.com, or call (804) 571-6383.
